Submarine mine



GIOVANNI EMANUELE ELIA, F WESTMINSTER", LONDON, ENGLAND,

LIMITED, O WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND, A BRITISH C0.:- v a sunmmnn MINE.

.appucationmea December 1, 1924. serial No. 758,144.

ATo all whom concern.:

Be it known 'that I, GIOVANNI EMANUnm ELIA, a subject o-f the 'King-ofItaly, reslding at 'Vickers House, Broadway, Westminster, in thecounty-of London,

` have invented certain new and usefu Im.-

Aprovements inv or Relating to Submarine Mines ,\of which the followingis aspecication.

This invention'relates to submarine mines, In certain classes ofsubmarine nimes,

' especially those intended for use against the surfaceof the waterand,in order 4to increase the eective rangeof the4 mine, it `has beenproposed to provide the mine with auxiliary firing-'gear including orconstituted by aline or cable which is supported Iby a buoy'or float. orby an' auxiliary mine located "above the iotation chamber. The said A.buoy or auxiliar niine may itself be provided with horn atteries andcontact devices: such as' those of they-Herz'battery type or suchcontant devices-in the float'ma be adapted 'when' struck to fire the;main mine or both the main and the auxiliary mine. The` line by whichthe buoy or auxiliary mine]l is connected .to theflotation chambenis-Qr'may also be Aprovided with contact devices which, `whenstruck by apassingv b ody, effect the explosion' of. thev main charge within thenotation chamber.

At the present. time -the aforesaid buoy or 'l auxiliary mineisconnected to the dotation chamber by` al predetermined length of linewhich isallowed to unwind freely'immedi- ',ately'after launching of themine and during v its, descentto the sea bed. Owing, however,

'.to various causes, such as disturbances set up -durin the sinkingofthe anchor-to the sea bed w ich lnterfere with the paying out of the45 predetermined length o f mooring cable for the -iotation` chamber,the buoyr or auxiliary mine which is ,connected-itc tlieiotation chambermay either become incorrectly anchored at such'a depth below the surfacelasto be ineffectual against surfacel craft cr'` 4against asubmarinetravelling at a short distance below the;l surface, or else itmay ascend to thepsurfac/e of the`wate`r`and beresence ofthe submarine.v tol one feature ofthe w.;-

land,v

1 @Non To main mine by means of a suitable delay action device such as.a soluble plug or a hydrostatic/release until after the mine has beenlaunched and the flotation chamber itself has been anchored at thepredetermined distance below the surface, the buoy.v

or auxiliary mine being then released from the flotation chamber and theline connecting it to the flotation chamber being allowed to uncoil orpay out until the auxiliary mine has ascended to a predetermined depthbelow the surface. i

According to another feature of the present invention the final depth ofsubmersion of the auxiliary mine is determined in an accurate manner bymeans which act independently of the fiotation chamber or main mine,whether the latter has been anchored at the correct Vdepthof submersionor not and wjhether or not the auxiliary mine is allowed to separatefrom the dotation chamber Vor main mine yimmediately after launching,ornormally-held in contact therewith,

asexplained above, by means 4of a dela action device until after theflotation c amber has been anchored. To this end the line, or a portionof the line, which connects the buoy. to the flotation chamber o'r mainmine may be carried upon -a drum or reel and means such asa'hydrostatmay be provided on the auxiliary mine, or on the cable, or ona casing adjacent to the auxiliary mine,

'ed to lock'the drum or otherwise to stop the paying out of the linedirectly or it may be `associated with an auxiliary line which itreleases and which serves to stop the-paying which, when the auxiliarymine has ascendn ed to the predetermined depth below the surout of thelinel 'in a similar manner to that i sed in connection with certainclasses the flotadepth beof submarine mines for anchorin tion chamber ata. predetermin low the surface, or any of the other methods uiolproposed for this purpose in connection with the anchorage of flotationchambers may also be used for accurately 4anchoring the auxiliary buoy.Alternatively the line may be carried upon payingout gear located eitherwithin the flotation chamber, within. the auxiliary mineitself orsupportedy ad]acent to the lauxiliary mine or to the flotation chamber,and a hydrostat may be provided which is adapted to release vor actuatea source of power such as a mechanical or compressed air motor, or tocomplete a battery circuit for actuating an electric motor, therebyrctating (for example through worm gearing) a drum on which the line iswound or actuating a device to which one end of the line is connected.The hydrostat is set so that 1t comes into operation at a predetermineddepth below the' surface, and on the prime mover being actuated the lineisl either wound in or unwound to the required extent to secure thefinal anchorage of the auxiliary mine at the proper-' depth below thegsurface.

In orderthat the said invention may be clearly lunderstood and readilycarriedv into eifect the same will now be described more fully withreference to the accompanying drawing, in which :--v

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the sequence of operations ofthe main mine and the auxiliary mine.

Figure 2 is a detail view showing a form of hydrostat release whichnormally mamtains the auxiliary mine in contact with the main mine oriiotation chamber.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the paying out gear for the lastsection of the line which determines the final depth of submersion ofthe auxiliary mine, and

Figure 4 is an outside View of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 3, 14 is a casing which is located within orattached thtl auxiliary mine. 15 is a drum rotatabiy mounted upon ashaft 151 and- 16 lis a length of auxiliary line lwound upon the drum15, the line in the example shownbeing 30 feet in length; 29 is thediaphragm of a hydrostat and 291 is a flange bolted to one of the endplates of the drum 15 and provided with openings 292 through which waterhas access to the diaphragm 29.- 28 is the spindle of the hydrostatwhich extends through the sleeve 293 ofthe hanged part 291. a recess inthe spindle 28 of the hydrostat which co-oper'ates with the ball lockingdevice, the, function of which will hereinafter be described. 142L is acasing which encloses the front part of the hydrostat and the adjacentparts, the said casing being provided with an opening 142 through whichwater has access to the diaphragm 29 of the hydrostat through theopenings 292. The flange 291 is provided with proJections 37,

32 is a ball locking device and 294 is 37 which co-operate witha`spring-controlled plunger 34, 35,36 which'acts as a locking device ashereinafter f described. 30 is an air chamber behind the hydrostaticdiaphragm 29, and l27 is a spindle which is locatedwithin a recess inthefiange 291 and which projects in front of'a boss 271 on the spindle 28and normally locks the hydrostat lto lock the drum 15 against rotation,and

22 is a soluble plug to which water is admitted after the auxiliary minehas separated from the flotation chamber or main mine so that itdissolves by theaction of the sea water and'releases the lockingspindles 24 and 27. 33 is a flanged disc mounted upon the sleeve 293 andspindle 28 which cooperates with the springcontrolled plunger 34, 35, 36to efect the locking of the drum 15 when the auxiliary mine has reachedthe set depth of submersion, the said disc beingv controlled bya spring31 in the manner hereinafter described.

AThe sequence of operations will first be described with reference tothe diagrammatic view shown at AFigure 1.

A (Figure 1) illustrates the mine after it has been launched and beforeit strikes the water. A1 shows the mine after it has sunk to a certaindepth below the surface, and A2 shows thetu complete mine after it hasrisen to the surface.` At the position shown at A3 the plummet isreleased and the plummet line descends to the depth corresponding to therequired depth of submersionof the main line. A.i the sinker has beenreleased and is i'n the act of descending leaving bothv the main andthev auxiliary mines on the .surface until (position A5) the plummettouches the sea bed when the mooring'drum in4 the sinker isautomatically-locked. At position'A the main mine or flotation chamberis shown at the set depth of submersion and' at this point the auxiliarymine 1 is released in any suitable manner, for example by a hydrostaticrelease or alternatively by a soluble plug, a suitable form ofhydrostatic release being hereinafter described, and ascends freely(positionv A7) to a position some distance below the depth at which itis to' be anchored. At position A7 a length of moor- At thepositionlshown' atlim ing cable is still retained on a drum carried masses mine 1is released and the auxiliary mine continues to ascend until the setdepth is reached (position A8) whereupon the auxiliry drum is locked,for example by a hydrostatically operated device.

2 (Figure 2) is the main mine or flotation chamber which may be of anysuitable construction and which is provided with a projecting flangedpart 3 havingan opening 4 adapted to e engaged by `a' plunger 5. Theplunger 5 is connected to a hydrostaticv diaphragm 6 located within acasing 7 secured to the auxiliarymie 1. The area of the Ydiaphrzgii 6 asalso the strength of the hydrostat spring 8 is such that the plunger 5is withdrawnv from engagement with the opening 4 in the flange 3 at orslightly above 'the depth at which the flotation chamber or main mine 2is anchored (position AB) The auxiliary mine is also connected to themain mme by a bracket 9 attached to the main Y mine VYand carrying anupright pin 10 which engages'witlinanvop'eningbinabracket 12 attached tothe'auxiliary mine 1. ln view of this arrangement and on the depth beingreached for which the hydrostat has been set (position A8) the pin. 5will be withdrawn out of engagement with the bracket 3 and the auxiliarymine 1 will rise, thus withdrawin the Ibracket 12 from engagement with te pin 10 carried by the bracket 9. Instead .of attaching the auxiliarymine to the main mine by a hydostatic release as a spring 23 to drawdown .the lookin spindle 24 s o that it is disengaged from t e recess,25. in the ianged'sleeve 291.' The withdrawal such an extent as toallow the auxiliary mine 1 to ascend to the set depth, the hydrostaticpressure on the diaphragm 29 is reduced to 'I5 that. 'at which the"reviously regulated spring 31 has been adJusted, thus allowing thespring 3l to draw out the hydrostatic spindle 28 until the roove 294formed therein comes opposite t balls 32 of the ball 80"* releasingdevice. The balls 32 are then forced into the groove 29 thus releasingthe part 33. On the part 33 being released it.

is pushed in b the spring 31 and in turn the locking pin 34, said.

moves forwar locking'pin 34 being normally maintained shown at Figure3.v the dpin 34 being moved forward its front en 36 engages within the'projections 37 'on the flanged 90 sleeve 291 which is bolted to the drum15 thus preventing further rotation of the same and so stopping theunwinding oi; the auxiliary cable 16. The auxiliary mme is then lockedat`the set depth.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent ofthe United Statesis 1. A submarine mine comprising, a buoyv aforesaid a solubleplug mayalso bemsedna'nt casing, a otation chamber, a line at- T and in suchcases the soluble plug'will be `adapted to dissolveY onl Aafter the mainmine has been` anchore at the redetermined depth below the' surfacelposition Af).Y The auxiliary mine 1 is of the type which in addition toacting .as a buoy which supports the auxiliary contact devices 13, 13,

. the mine 1 is itself furnished with contact devices 1a which,

on being struck, serve to explode themine. Y l

Referring-more particularly to Figures 3 and 4, one end of the auxiliaryline 1 6 which is wound upon the-drum 15 1s connected as shown4 at1b',to the cablev which carries the' auxiliary contact devices 13, 13,the other end of the line being secured by Fmeans of a ball 18 locatedwithin lal cavity 19 in the drum 15. The drum 15V is normally locked andremains locked until the h drostat 6 has released the auxiliary mine 1om the main" mine and the auxiliary cable with the-con tact devices13-has unwound to the position' shown at A". When the auxiliary mine 1leaves the main mine 2 owing to the actual 2 plug 22. Water thereuponhaslaccess to thev soluble lug 22 and dissolves the same. The

, dissolution of the soluble plug22 then allows taching saidbuoyantncasing to said liotation chamber, means for securing' saidbuoyant casing t0 said flotation chamber until the latter has beenanchored," means acting thereafter to release the buoyant casing froms'aid iotation chamber, andmeans B05.,

for arresting-the ascent of sa.i:d.'buoyant aging at a predeterminedpome,

2. Asubmarinemme comprising, a buoyant casing, a :dotation `chamber, ahne attaching said buo ant casing t0 said. hote-,11.0

tionchamber, a. elay actionfdevice for securing` said -buo to( said.iotation chamber until the-dotation chamber has been anA chored andthereafterlreleasmg the buoyant casingfrom said otationchamber so as tomeans acting thereafter to release thebuoyant casing fromfsaidA dotationchamber,

means for arresting-theascent of said buoyant casin at a,r i determinedpoint, and contact evi'cesj l isgosed along .the line which conneots'theuoyant leasing tothe 130 to said iotation chamber until flotationchamber, said contact devices servto release the buoy from the flotationchaming to explode said flotation chamber on bei' and allow it to ascendand means -for being struck. larresting theasce'nt ofwsaid buoy` at apre- 40 4. A submarine mine comprising, a buoy,y detei'minQ51pOP'fp'- r-YLa Vflotation chambeig'ba liiier`a'r,tacli`ing/said"T'v /llllllluuu`mme oombmsmg a, bota' buoy to said flotation chamber, lmeans fortioncliamber, a buoy, .a length of line atsecurng saidbuoyv to saidflotation chamtaching Said buOyjtO Salud HOQMIOII Chumbel, ber until theflotationV chamber has been an-i a device normally holdingsaid buoy incon- 45 Ch0red,^m`e.ns"a 'cting thereafter to release tact Vyitli saidflotation chamber so that Said 10 thgbuoy from Salflutaxgmambegtmeansflotation chamber and said buoy consti- L `for arresting the ascent ofsaidIbTi-oyetT-U-@fgmbmg uut moans Whlob predeterminedpoint, said buoybeing pro- 0u the 0 i! haLfLbI'bomg uuohorou fu' vided-With Contactdevices'uliich serve to 10W u poumon of sulla vlkmullwwmda aud 50 effectthe explosion of-said flotation cliammoans aotm' tboouftol toflousowubu-ull*ifV Y :i5 ber O-u the buoy being Struck by` u passingiaiy length ofV line so as to allow the buoy vessel. to ascend to a setdepth after theflotation 5. A Submarineln'line Cion'lprisng, a buoylld'l'nber,hls dOVn in anchored ant casing, a flotation chamber, a lineatloosltlon- 'm taching said buoy 4to said flotationrrvham- .8- ASubmarino mme oomblsmg,a flota* 20 ber, means fur Securing Suid buoy toSaQrtion` chamber, a buoy secured to .said flota- ""'\---f}uta+M.nhgmberdmiiinthfuchumtion chamber by a length of line, a deber has beenanchored, means acting there- Vibo uol'uluny holding Suuu buoy QQQBQQf--v^- after t0 release the buoy from Said0tVatQn-Vl-th`slld"flGiiatIIhmD-m .Sald 60 chamber, means for arrestingthe ascent of otublob @bomber anu Saud b-uoy oo'ustltuto 2: said-buoyIat a'predetermined point, and conu Sluzflo launoblng uulta moansWbohisoutbo tact devices on said buoy and on said linel Hobutlouohumbolf 'bolug auohoodt the Seb which serve to effect the explosion ofsaid d oPth of munorslona allow a Poton of bho J -ilotation chamber onbeing struck by a passlm@ oouuootulg @he buoy to the otatlon 65 ingVessel. l chamber to unwind-freely, means for re- WwtL-*JQA Submarinemine Comprising a buo o leasing an auxiliary lengthA o f line so as to aiotati'chamber, a line attaching said 110W tho buoy to uso/oud to afurther eX* buoy to said flotation chamber, a liydrostattout after theotaton Chamber has Settled u cally controlled. device p normally holdingdow? 1n the nehm-ed-` Posltlonund hydl`o` 'o Said buoy 'm Contactuv'usuwuO-statieallyk `cpntiolledy means for stopping the 5 35mmbeusmuutda 10m Chamber und paying out Gefa` auxiliary length of line rSuid buuy (musi-gnu@ a Single luuuchpg unit, when the buoy has ascengdedto the set depth.

said device acting at a predetermined Adepth GIOVANNI EMANUELE ELIA.

